Sierra Leone national football team
| Nickname | Leone Stars | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) | |||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
| Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | |||
| Head coach | Mohamed Kallon | |||
| Captain | Osman Kakay | |||
| Most caps | Umaru Bangura (55) | |||
| Top scorer | Mohamed Kallon Kei Kamara (8) | |||
| Home stadium | Freetown National Stadium | |||
| FIFA code | SLE | |||
| ||||
| FIFA ranking | ||||
| Current | 120 (19 January 2026)[1] | |||
| Highest | 50 (August 2014) | |||
| Lowest | 172 (September 2007) | |||
| First international | ||||
| Sierra Leone 0–2 Nigeria (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 10 August 1949)[2] | ||||
| Biggest win | ||||
| Sierra Leone 5–1 Niger (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 7 March 1976) Sierra Leone 5–1 Niger (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 3 June 1995) Sierra Leone 4–0 São Tomé and Príncipe (Freetown, Sierra Leone; 22 April 2000) | ||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||
| Mali 6–0 Sierra Leone (Bamako, Mali; 17 June 2007) Syria 6–0 Sierra Leone (Syria; 5 June 2009) | ||||
| Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 1994) | |||
| Best result | Group stage (1994, 1996, 2021) | |||
The Sierra Leone national football team represents Sierra Leone in association football and is governed by the Sierra Leone Football Association. It has qualified for Africa Cup of Nations three times.
History
Sierra Leone's first match was at home on 10 August 1949 against another British colony, Nigeria, and was lost 2–0. In 1954 it played another British colony and British administered U.N trust territory, Gold Coast and Trans-Volta Togoland, and lost 2–0 away. On 22 April 1961, it hosted Nigeria and lost 4–2. On 12 November 1966, it hosted Liberia in its first match against a non-British colony and earned its first draw, 1–1. A week later, it lost 2–0 in Liberia. On 13 January 1971, it played its first match against a non-African team, West Germany's B-team. The match in Sierra Leone was won 1–0 by the Germans. Sierra Leone's first match outside Africa was its first against an Asian nation, China. It lost 4–1 in China on 5 April 1974.[4]
In August 2014, Sierra Leone FA cancelled all association football matches in an effort to stop the spread of the 2014 Ebola virus epidemic in Sierra Leone, a week after Liberian FA did the same.[5] Sierra Leonean players playing outside Sierra Leone, such as Michael Lahoud playing in the United States, were discriminated against, with opposition players refusing to swap shirts, shake hands and allow them to certain places of the stadium because they fear that they could be carrying the disease.[6] The Sierra Leonean national team wasn't allowed to play home games and all players had to be foreign-based.[7]
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2025
| 20 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Sierra Leone | 3–1 | Guinea-Bissau | Paynesville, Liberia |
| 16:00 UTC+0 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana) |
| 25 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Egypt | 1–0 | Sierra Leone | Cairo, Egypt |
| 21:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Cairo International Stadium |
| 4 September 2026 World Cup qualification | Guinea-Bissau | 1–1 | Sierra Leone | Bissau, Guinea Bissau |
| Baldé 74' | Report | Kamara 45+1' | Stadium: Estádio 24 de Setembro |
| 9 September 2026 World Cup qualification | Sierra Leone | 2–0 | Ethiopia | Paynesville, Liberia |
| Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Yannick Malala (Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
| 8 October 2026 World Cup qualification | Sierra Leone | 0–1 | Burkina Faso | Paynesville, Liberia |
|
Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo) |
| 12 October 2026 World Cup qualification | Djibouti | 1–2 | Sierra Leone | Casablanca, Morocco |
|
|
Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini) |
2026
| 27 March 2026 FIFA Series | Oman | Cancelled | Sierra Leone | Baku, Azerbaijan |
| 15:00 UTC+4 | Stadium: Dalga Arena | |||
| Note: Match cancelled due to Oman withdrawing following the 2026 Iran war. | ||||
| 30 March 2026 FIFA Series | Azerbaijan | v | Sierra Leone | Sumgait, Azerbaijan |
| 17:00 UTC+4 | Stadium: Sumgayit City Stadium |
Coaching history
- Burkhard Pape (1966–1968)
- Klaus Ebbighausen (1976–1978)
- Warwick Rimmer (1979)
- Christian Cole (1989)
- Christian Cole (1991)
- Raymond Zarpanelian (1993–1994)
- Roger Palmgren (1994–1996)
- John Sherington (1996–1997)
- Abdulai Sesay (1997–2000)
- Dušan Drašković (2000)
- Christian Cole (2001)
- José Antonio Nogueira (2003)
- John Sherington (2003–2006)
- James Peters (2006–2007)
- Mohamed Kanu (2007–2009)
- Daniel Koroma (2009–2010)
- Christian Cole (2010–2011)
- Lars-Olof Mattsson (2011–2013)
- Johnathan McKinstry (2013–2014)
- Atto Mensah (2014)
- John Ajina Sesay (2014–2015)
- John Sherington (2015)
- Sellas Tetteh (2015–2017)
- John Keister (2017–2019)
- Sellas Tetteh (2019–2020)
- John Keister (2020–2023)
- Amidu Karim (2023–)
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA Series matches against Oman and either Azerbaijan or Saint Lucia on 27 and 30 March 2026; respectively in Azerbaijan.[8]
Caps and goals are correct as of 12 October 2025, after the match against Djibouti.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Alhaji Sesay | 9 October 1998 | 6 | 0 | Bhantal | |
| GK | Francis Koroma | 15 May 2000 | 4 | 0 | Wilberforce Strikers | |
| GK | Mamadou Jalloh | 29 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | VPS | |
| DF | Emmanuel Samadia | 19 April 2001 | 28 | 0 | Hartford Athletic | |
| DF | Nathaniel Jalloh | 7 September 2005 | 9 | 0 | Kallon | |
| DF | Alpha Turay | 26 May 2005 | 9 | 0 | El Gouna | |
| DF | Abdoulie Jarjue Kabia | 27 January 2001 | 8 | 0 | Samgurali Tskaltubo | |
| DF | Juma Bah | 11 April 2006 | 6 | 1 | Nice | |
| DF | Citta Bah | 27 April 2006 | 0 | 0 | Midtjylland | |
| MF | Kwame Quee | 7 September 1996 | 35 | 3 | Ungmennafélagið Víkingur | |
| MF | Saidu Fofanah | 14 September 1997 | 13 | 1 | Hapoel Ra'anana | |
| MF | Kamil Conteh | 26 December 2002 | 11 | 0 | Lincoln City | |
| MF | John Bilili Sesay | 1 August 2007 | 4 | 0 | Bray Wanderers | |
| MF | Hindolo Mustapha | 29 July 2006 | 3 | 1 | West Bromwich Albion | |
| MF | Santigie Fornah | 1 February 2007 | 0 | 0 | SLIFA | |
| FW | Alhassan Koroma | 9 June 2000 | 24 | 3 | Baniyas | |
| FW | Mustapha Bundu | 27 February 1997 | 23 | 4 | Hannover 96 | |
| FW | Sullay Kaikai | 26 August 1995 | 20 | 1 | Cambridge United | |
| FW | Amadou Bakayoko | 1 January 1996 | 16 | 4 | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | |
| FW | Daniel Kanu | 14 November 2004 | 5 | 0 | Walsall | |
| FW | Sallieu Tarawallie | 3 January 1995 | 4 | 1 | Kallon | |
| FW | Samuel Gandi | 19 October 2006 | 2 | 0 | Politehnica UTM Chișinău | |
| FW | Idris Kanu | 5 December 1999 | 2 | 0 | Barnet | |
| FW | Yayah Kallon | 30 June 2001 | 0 | 0 | Casertana | |
| FW | Jay Tee Kamara | 10 May 2002 | 0 | 0 | Portland Hearts of Pine | |
Recent call-ups
The following players had been called up in 12 months preceding the above draft.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Donald Kamara | 16 July 2002 | 1 | 0 | East End Lions | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| GK | Dauda Bangura | 16 October 2006 | 0 | 0 | East End Lions | v. Egypt, 25 March 2025 |
| DF | Mohamed Kamara | 28 November 2005 | 0 | 0 | Bhantal | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| DF | Osman Kakay | 25 August 1997 | 27 | 0 | Košice | v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025 |
| DF | Mohamed Baimba Sesay | 28 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | Kallon | v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025 |
| DF | Edward Bello Yillah | 17 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | Mighty Blackpool | v. Egypt, 25 March 2025 |
| DF | David Janneh | 26 June 1993 | 0 | 0 | Kallon | v. Egypt, 25 March 2025 |
| MF | Abu Dumbuya | 29 January 1999 | 23 | 1 | Żabbar St. Patrick | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| MF | Mohamed Kabia | 23 June 2003 | 4 | 0 | Borac Čačak | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| MF | Mohamed Billoh Kabba | 26 November 2004 | 2 | 0 | Bo Rangers | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| MF | Alusine Dumbuya | 17 December 2005 | 0 | 0 | East End Lions | v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Tyrese Fornah | 11 September 1999 | 9 | 0 | Northampton Town | v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Alhaji Jalloh | 1 January 2005 | 0 | 0 | Kamboi Eagles | v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Ibrahim Turay | 5 May 1999 | 10 | 1 | Bo Rangers | v. Egypt, 25 March 2025 |
| MF | Hassan Milla Koroma | 7 November 2000 | 2 | 1 | Kallon | v. Egypt, 25 March 2025 |
| FW | Kei Kamara | 1 September 1984 | 44 | 8 | Cincinnati | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| FW | Augustus Kargbo | 24 August 1999 | 24 | 5 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| FW | Mohamed Buya Turay | 10 January 1995 | 20 | 3 | Zhetysu | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| FW | Alie Conteh | 29 October 2002 | 11 | 2 | Strømsgodset | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| FW | Momoh Dumbuya | 14 February 2004 | 2 | 1 | Kallon | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| FW | Mohamed Bangura | 6 December 2004 | 2 | 0 | Bhantal | v. Djibouti, 12 October 2025 |
| FW | Momoh Kamara | 6 May 2005 | 4 | 1 | Minnesota United | v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025 |
| FW | Musa Noah Kamara | 6 August 1999 | 16 | 4 | Ports Authority | v. Ethiopia, 9 September 2025 |
| FW | James Kaiyamba | 3 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | Star Sport | v. Egypt, 25 March 2025 |
INJ Withdrew due to injury. | ||||||
Records
- As of 12 October 2025[9]
- Players in bold are still active with Sierra Leone.
Most appearances
| Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umaru Bangura | 55 | 4 | 2006–2022 |
| 2 | Ibrahim Bah | 45 | 3 | 1986–1998 |
| Kei Kamara | 45 | 8 | 2008–present | |
| 4 | Mohamed Kallon | 41 | 8 | 1995–2012 |
| 5 | Sheriff Suma | 37 | 3 | 2006–2015 |
| 6 | Kwame Quee | 35 | 3 | 2012–present |
| 7 | Yeami Dunia | 34 | 0 | 2012–present |
| 8 | Medo Kamara | 33 | 1 | 2008–2021 |
| 9 | Julius Wobay | 32 | 4 | 2001–2018 |
| 10 | Ibrahim Kargbo | 30 | 1 | 2000–2013 |
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Kallon | 8 | 41 | 0.2 | 1995–2012 |
| Kei Kamara | 8 | 45 | 0.18 | 2008–present | |
| 3 | Lamine Conteh | 6 | 20 | 0.3 | 1993–2006 |
| 4 | Alhaji Kamara | 5 | 19 | 0.26 | 2012–present |
| Augustus Kargbo | 5 | 24 | 0.21 | 2021–present | |
| 6 | John Dumbuya | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1984–1987 |
| Teteh Bangura | 4 | 12 | 0.33 | 2011–2014 | |
| Amadou Bakayoko | 4 | 16 | 0.25 | 2022–present | |
| Alhassan Kamara | 4 | 16 | 0.25 | 2012–2018 | |
| Musa Noah Kamara | 4 | 16 | 0.25 | 2018–present | |
| Abu Kanu | 4 | 16 | 0.25 | 1994–2003 | |
| Mustapha Bangura | 4 | 17 | 0.24 | 2005–2016 | |
| Mustapha Bundu | 4 | 23 | 0.17 | 2019–present | |
| Julius Wobay | 4 | 32 | 0.13 | 2001–2018 | |
| Umaru Bangura | 4 | 55 | 0.07 | 2006–2022 |
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
| FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| 1962 and 1966 | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | ||||||||||||||
| 1970 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| 1974 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||
| 1978 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||
| 1982 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 1986 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 1990 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Did not qualify | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | |||||||||
| 2002 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 17 | ||||||||||
| 2006 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2010 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | ||||||||||
| 2014 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||
| 2018 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2026 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 10 | ||||||||||
| 2030 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
| 2034 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 0/16 | 57 | 16 | 12 | 29 | 52 | 82 | |||||||||
Africa Cup of Nations
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Not affiliated to CAF | ||||||||
| 1963 | |||||||||
| 1965 | |||||||||
| 1968 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| 1970 | Withdrew | ||||||||
| 1972 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| 1974 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 1976 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| 1978 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 1980 | Did not enter | ||||||||
| 1982 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 1984 | |||||||||
| 1986 | Withdrew | ||||||||
| 1988 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 1990 | Withdrew | ||||||||
| 1992 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 1994 | Round 1 | 10th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Squad |
| 1996 | Round 1 | 13th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | Squad |
| 1998 | Withdrew | ||||||||
| 2000 | Disqualified due to civil war | ||||||||
| 2002 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 2004 | |||||||||
| 2006 | |||||||||
| 2008 | |||||||||
| 2010 | |||||||||
| 2012 | |||||||||
| 2013 | |||||||||
| 2015 | |||||||||
| 2017 | |||||||||
| 2019 | Disqualified due to FIFA suspension | ||||||||
| 2021 | Group stage | 18th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Squad |
| 2023 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 2025 | |||||||||
| 2027 | To be determined | ||||||||
| 2029 | |||||||||
| Total | 0 titles | 3/35 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | — |
Coaching staff
| Head coach | Amidu Karim |
| Assistant coach | Alusine Sesay |
| Assistant coach | Amara Rahman Bangura |
| Sport therapist | Joris De Vos |
| Head of medical | Osman Fofanah |
| Team manager | Abdulai Kargbo |
Honours
Regional
- Amílcar Cabral Cup
- Champions (2): 1993, 1995
- Runners-up (2): 1984, 1986
References
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Courtney, Barrie (15 August 2006). "Sierra Leone – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Sierra Leone – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Sierra Leone suspends football matches as Ebola virus spreads". The Independent. 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "Ebola affecting Sierra Leone team – Michael Lahoud". BBC Sport. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "The land where football is religion". FIFATV. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Head Coach Mohamed Kallon has named his squad for the FIFA Series 2026 (March Friendlies)". Facebook. Sierra Leone Football Association. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ^ "Sierra Leone". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
Sources
- Sierra Leone to 'host' the Elephants of Ivory Coast in Abidjan – footballsierraleone.net (archived 5 March 2016)
- Sierra Leone 1–1 Malawi: International Friendly – footballsierraleone.net (archived 5 April 2016)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sierra Leone national association football team.
- Football Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone Football Association
- Sierra Leone at CAF
- Sierra Leone at FIFA
- Sierra Leone at National-Football-Teams.com